Name of Champion

"How's the water temperature?"

Luo Mu held a stack of dry, neatly folded Naranja Academy uniforms and called toward the bathroom, where the dense sound of water droplets falling could be heard.

Nemona savored the comfort of hot water against her skin, and her tense heart eased somewhat. She called loudly through the door, "It's perfect!"

Luo Mu nodded and placed the uniforms in the laundry basket beside the bathroom door. "Serperior and the others washed and dried your clothes. They're by the door!"

"Okay~"

Hearing Nemona's energetic reply, Luo Mu smiled and shook his head. Then his expression swiftly settled, taking on a trace of seriousness.

The stream was not far from this Small Western-Style House, only a little over ten minutes away. It had been less than half an hour since he had pulled Nemona from the water.

Though anxiety churned within him, Luo Mu could only wait patiently for Nemona to finish washing up and show him the way.

Luo Mu stepped out of the Small Western-Style House and looked at the five Pokémon gathered before him, as well as Mimikyu, which had been following at his side but had an incredibly faint presence. He said solemnly, "The first priority of this rescue operation is ensuring the safety of the kidnapped children. Any objections?"

"Meow!" "Bo Wu~" "Gah!" "Ssslo." "Maw!" "Mimkyu~"

The six Pokémon, led by Luxray, all displayed absolute confidence. It was trust in their own strength, as well as their answer to Luo Mu's request.

Luo Mu gave a slight nod and recalled them one by one into their Poké Balls, leaving only Dragonite outside.

Luo Mu looked ruefully at the six Poké Balls on his waist. Since completing the Paldea Champion League challenge, this was the first time he had carried a full team with him.

As he stroked Dragonite's wonderfully soft belly, Luo Mu recalled what Nemona had told him about her situation on the way back.

Yesterday, she had argued with her family and chosen to run away from home.

The reason for the argument had been childish.

Nemona did not want to become a Trainer. She wanted to help with her family's company, just like her older sister.

Putting Aside why battle-crazed Nemona did not want to become a Trainer.

After running away, Nemona had never expected that she would be silently abducted by kidnappers after spending only a short while at a beach near Los Platos.

When Nemona woke up, she had already appeared in a dim warehouse. Beside her were several children who seemed to have been captured some time ago and were listless.

Some were her age, while others were even younger.

During her captivity, Nemona had heard the unrestrained laughter of the three kidnappers outside, along with their plans for dealing with her and the other children.

The other children would be smuggled out of the Paldea Region and sold to Team Rocket in the Kanto Region for a high price. As for her, she would be used to extort money from her family, so the kidnappers would have money to enjoy themselves on the road.

They had long had their sights set on Nemona, the rich young lady, but her home's tight security had kept them from making a move. Then Nemona had gone and run away on her own.

What followed was Pawmi crawling out of a hole, biting through the rope binding Nemona, and giving her the chance to escape.

Although Luo Mu hoped to live a peaceful, leisurely life, these kidnappers were clearly here to ruin that peaceful, leisurely life. Professor Sada's strong reaction last time had also been caused by the impact of this group of kidnappers.

Fortunately, Nemona knew where the kidnappers' hideout was. After failing to find her, those people would likely return to their base to move the kidnapped children. With Dragonite's flying speed, they could definitely catch them off guard.

A few minutes later, Nemona, now dressed in dry clothes, jogged away from the bathroom before she even had time to tie up her hair. She said urgently, "Big brother, let's go save them!"

Luo Mu gave a slight nod, scooped Nemona up, and placed her on Dragonite's back, where it was already poised for takeoff. Then he climbed on as well and smiled. "We'll be going a little fast, so hold on tight, okay?"

Nemona nervously clutched at her collar and nodded cautiously.

Feeling that the two people on its back were seated securely, Dragonite's gentle, simple expression instantly sharpened. An imposing aura slowly rose from it without any need for anger.

As its small wings beat rapidly, a fierce gale immediately swept across the ground, bending the calf-high grass beneath the intense wind pressure.

In the next instant, Dragonite had already appeared high in the sky. Nemona curiously looked down at the rapidly moving buildings and scenery below, tiny as ants, and asked, "Why can't I feel any wind at all when we're flying this fast?"

Luo Mu kept his gaze fixed ahead and replied, "Dragonite is using Flying-type energy to create a barrier that blocks the fierce wind. Otherwise, with its flying speed, we wouldn't be able to stay on its back at all."

Nemona nodded as if she understood.

East of Los Platos, inside an abandoned warehouse.

Three cursing figures returned there. This was their hideout, as well as the warehouse where they temporarily kept the kidnapped children.

The bearded man at the front spat a thick wad of phlegm onto the ground and cursed at the short man on his left. "You let a ten-year-old little girl escape? You're getting more useless with age!"

The short man said nothing, simply allowing the bearded man to insult his entire family.

The lanky man on the right could not stand it anymore and tried to smooth things over. "Boss—"

The bearded man called Boss was having none of it. He panted heavily in rage and said viciously, "Since we can't find any trace of that little girl, she was probably rescued by someone or drowned in the water."

"Either way, we need to move out now. We'll sell these goods to Team Rocket first, then head to a big city like Levincia to kidnap more people!"

The lanky man hurriedly agreed. "Boss is right."

The short man, who had not spoken until now, took out three Poké Balls. After releasing three Ninjask, he said quietly, "I'll stand guard."

The bearded man snorted. "Don't be so useless this time!"

With that, the bearded man led the lanky man into the warehouse, preparing to move the goods into the van.

But he did not see the short man's nails digging into his flesh, nor the cold look in his eyes.

Once the bearded man had gone farther away, the short man gritted his teeth and muttered, "One day, I'll make you kneel and beg me to spare you."

"You probably won't live to see that day."

Suddenly, a calm male voice came from Above Head. The short man's pupils contracted, and he instantly looked up at the sky.

It was the man riding Dragonite, along with that rich girl named Nemona who had escaped!

The short man immediately prepared to shout and warn the two inside the warehouse, but Luo Mu and Dragonite had no intention of giving him the chance.

Accompanied by five flashes of red light, Luo Mu's Pokémon charged into the warehouse with clearly assigned roles.

At the same time, vast, boundless dragon might descended from the sky. The short man's eyes nearly split with rage as the pressure crushed him to the ground, leaving him unable to move.

What about his Ninjask?

The only answer was three successive crashing sounds. The Ninjask, in whom the short man had placed such high hopes, faced the sky-blue Air Cutter that howled forth from a sweep of Dragonite's wings. They were instantly defeated in a single exchange.

The short man's lips trembled as he struggled to spit out two words. "Monster..."

He had never had any clear understanding of what strength truly meant, but beneath the despair of this gap that seemed as vast as heaven and earth, he understood.

With his limited knowledge, only great figures of that level could possess such crushing pressure.

The apex of this world's pyramid, a synonym for power, the peak of individual strength—the Champion.